- Dec 14, 2013
- 61
- 2
- 99
Hi everyone, it's been quite a few years since I have posted. We took a break from chickens for a while, I've had my girls for about 3 years again. I have nine chickens. Three of them are brown sex links. Had a lot of health issues with these three girls. Right now what I'm dealing with, is some lameness and some vision issues. About a week ago, I went to let the girls out in the morning and one of them was in the nesting box. When I tried to kind of show her out she stumbled and fell over. She couldn't seem to stand up. She was trying to use her wings like arms to balance yourself. So I picked her up and put her down on the ground in the same thing she couldn't move around. So I brought her in the house, had to clean her up cuz she had been sleeping in her poop. Got her down on the floor, same thing she couldn't seem to balance herself without her wings. I brought her in some food and water and treats, and she wasn't interested in eating. Tried to get her into the vet, but there was no openings. I did some reading, and I gave her the Epsom salt water. I was concerned that she had gotten into something toxic. Nothing in her run that I'm aware of, but we do have squirrels and birds and things that come around. I'm thinking something got dropped into the run. After a couple days of the Epsom salt water and my making her eat food, she seemed to be doing better. She is up and walking, but doesn't seem to be as strong as she was. Since this has happened, she seems to be having a hard time finding her food. I can tell she sees it but when she goes to eat it she keeps missing. I'm pretty sure we got something neurological going at this point but I don't really know what to do. I've taken her outside a couple times just to see how she reacts, and she tucks her neck down and starts to head back towards the house. I know she's still not feeling well. Her poops are not exactly what they should be either. And the other girls definitely don't want her around at the moment. They can tell something's wrong with her. I'm not sure what to do at this point. she seems content enough being in the house at the moment, but this is not good for her forever.